MLchartDataset catalogue

Patent · US9650814B2 · B2 · US

Alignment and drive system for motorized horizontal docking station

(11) Publication number
US9650814B2
(21) Application number
14/306,198
(22) Filing date
2014-06-16
(30) Priority date
2013-12-31
(43) Publication date
2017-05-16
(45) Date of grant
2017-05-16
(51) IPC
E05B 73/00; F16B 2/06; F16H 35/10; G05B 9/02; G06F 1/16; G06F 13/00; G06F 21/31; G06F 21/86; G06F 21/88; G07C 9/00
(52) CPC
  • G06F Electric digital data processing: 1/1632, 13/4282, 21/31, 21/86, 21/88, 2213/0024
  • E05B Locks; accessories therefor; handcuffs: 73/0082
  • F16B Devices for fastening or securing constructional elements or machine parts together, e.g. nails, bolts, circlips, clamps, clips or wedges; joints or jointing: 2/065
  • F16H Gearing: 2035/106, 35/10
  • G05B Control or regulating systems in general; functional elements of such systems; monitoring or testing arrangements for such systems or elements: 9/02
  • G07C Time or attendance registers; registering or indicating the working of machines; generating random numbers; voting or lottery apparatus; arrangements, systems or apparatus for checking not provided for elsewhere: 9/00174
  • Y02D Climate change mitigation technologies in information and communication technologies [ICT], i.e. information and communication technologies aiming at the reduction of their own energy use: 10/00
  • Y10T Technical subjects covered by former us classification: 74/18808, 74/2066
(73) Assignee
Henge Docks LLC
(72) Inventors
Matthew Leigh Vroom
(54) Title
Alignment and drive system for motorized horizontal docking station
(57) Abstract

Disclosed is a docking station for an electronic device having a housing, a top surface of the housing for receiving the electronic device, a plurality of positioning members of the top surface for positioning the electronic device with respect to the top surface, a first sensor for detecting the presence of the electronic device, a first connector block, a first connector of the first connector block, a first arm of the first connector block, a motor connected to the first arm via one or more gears, and a security hole for attaching a lock.

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Claims (20)

  1. A docking station for an electronic device, the docking station comprising: a housing; a top surface of the housing for receiving the electronic device; a plurality of positioning members of the top surface for positioning the electronic device with respect to the top surface; a first connector block; a first connector of the first connector block; a first arm of the first connector block; a motor connected to the first arm via one or more gears, the motor operable to move the first connector block from a substantially open position to a substantially closed position; a controller for controlling the motor; a first sensor configured to detect the presence of the electronic device; a button on the housing, the button configured to send a signal to the controller; and wherein when the first sensor indicates the electronic device is present, the controller, upon receiving the signal from the button, activates the motor to move the first connector block from a substantially open position to a substantially closed position.
  2. The docking station of claim 1 further comprising: a first slot on a right edge of the top surface; and a second slot on a left edge of the top surface.
  3. The docking station of claim 1 further comprising: a first positioning member of the plurality of positioning members, the first positioning member positioned to contact a front surface of the electronic device; a second positioning member of the plurality of positioning members, the second positioning member positioned to contact a front surface of the electronic device; a third positioning member of the plurality of positioning members, the third positioning member positioned to contact a rear surface and a first side surface of the electronic device; and a fourth positioning member of the plurality of positioning members, the fourth positioning member positioned to contact a rear surface and a second side surface of the electronic device.
  4. The docking station of claim 1 further comprising: a second sensor, the second sensor configured to detect the presence of the electronic device.
  5. The docking station of claim 1 further comprising: a second connector of the first connector block.
  6. The docking station of claim 1 further comprising: a first block-side portion of the first arm; and a first follower portion of the first arm.
  7. The docking station of claim 6 further comprising: a first linear clutch connecting the first block-side portion to the first follower portion.
  8. The docking station of claim 7 further comprising: a third sensor associated with the first linear clutch, the third sensor configured to detect a slippage of the first linear clutch.
  9. The docking station of claim 1 further comprising: a first rail associated with the first arm and connected to the housing; and a first sliding member connected to the first arm and slidably connected to the first rail.
  10. The docking station of claim 1 further comprising: a first alignment arm of the first connector block.
  11. The docking station of claim 1 further comprising: a first rack-gear of the first arm; and a pinion-gear.
  12. The docking station of claim 11 further comprising: an emergency override gear connected to the pinion-gear; and a clutch-gear.
  13. The docking station of claim 12 wherein the clutch-gear is configured to slip in response to a rotational force applied to the emergency override gear.
  14. The docking station of claim 12 wherein the clutch-gear is disposed between the motor and the pinion gear.
  15. The docking station of claim 1 further comprising: a security hole; and a fourth sensor in the security hole.
  16. The docking station of claim 1 further comprising: a position sensor for detecting a position of the first arm.
  17. The docking station of claim 16 further comprising: a position reference member of the first arm, the position reference member positioned to interface with the position sensor.
  18. A docking station for an electronic device, the docking station comprising: a housing; a tray of the housing for receiving the electronic device; a first connector block; a first connector of the first connector block, the first connector positioned to engage a first port of the electronic device; a first arm of the first connector block, the first arm slidably connected to the housing; a second connector block opposite the first connector block; a second connector of the second connector block, the second connector positioned to engage a second port of the electronic device; a second arm of the second connector block, the second arm slidably connected to the housing; a motor connected to the first arm and the second arm via one or more gears, the motor operable to turn the one or more gears thereby sliding the first and second arms to engage and disengage the first and second connectors with the first and second ports of the electronic device, respectively; a controller for controlling the motor; a sensor configured to detect the presence of the electronic device; a button on the housing, the button configured to send a signal to the controller; and wherein when the sensor indicates the electronic device is present, the controller, upon receiving the signal from the button, activates the motor.
  19. A docking station for an electronic device, the docking station comprising: a housing; a tray of the housing for receiving the electronic device; a connector block; a connector of the connector block, the connector positioned to engage a port of the electronic device; an arm of the connector block, the arm slidably connected to the housing; a block-side portion of the arm; a follower portion of the arm; and a linear clutch connecting the block-side portion to the follower portion, the linear clutch operable to slip thereby allowing the follower portion to move independently of the block-side portion.
  20. The docking station of claim 19 further comprising: a first sensor configured to detect the presence of the electronic device; and a second sensor associated with the linear clutch, the second sensor configured to detect a slippage of the linear clutch.

Description

This application is a non-provisional of, and claims the benefit of priority to, U.S. Provisional Application 61/922,094 filed Dec. 31, 2013 and U.S. Provisional Application 61/988,250 filed May 4, 2014. The entirety of the aforementioned provisional applications are hereby incorporated by reference.

Field of the Invention

The embodiments of the invention relate a docking station for an electronic device, and more particularly, to a software controlled, horizontally oriented docking station for a laptop computer. Although embodiments of the invention are suitable for a wide scope of applications, it is particularly suitable for use with laptop computers that have ports on two opposing sides and for protecting an electronic device from unauthorized removal from a docking station.

Discussion of the Related Art

The related art docking stations include docking stations for laptop computers. Docking stations of the related art are generally of the form disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,309,230 to Helot, particularly FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. The related art docking stations generally interface with an electronic device such as a laptop computer. The electrical connection between electronic device and docking station is generally achieved through a single, multi-pin docking port. The related art docking station generally provides a multitude of additional interface ports connected to the docking port.

Docking stations of the related art also include multi-plug to multi-port docking stations such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Pub. 2013/0148289 of Kitae Kwon (“Kwon”), particularly in FIG. 2 (multi-plug), and FIG. 6 (multi-port).

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Record as JSON 
{
  "publication_number": "US9650814B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Alignment and drive system for motorized horizontal docking station",
  "abstract": "Disclosed is a docking station for an electronic device having a housing, a top surface of the housing for receiving the electronic device, a plurality of positioning members of the top surface for positioning the electronic device with respect to the top surface, a first sensor for detecting the presence of the electronic device, a first connector block, a first connector of the first connector block, a first arm of the first connector block, a motor connected to the first arm via one or more gears, and a security hole for attaching a lock.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A docking station for an electronic device, the docking station comprising: a housing; a top surface of the housing for receiving the electronic device; a plurality of positioning members of the top surface for positioning the electronic device with respect to the top surface; a first connector block; a first connector of the first connector block; a first arm of the first connector block; a motor connected to the first arm via one or more gears, the motor operable to move the first connector block from a substantially open position to a substantially closed position; a controller for controlling the motor; a first sensor configured to detect the presence of the electronic device; a button on the housing, the button configured to send a signal to the controller; and wherein when the first sensor indicates the electronic device is present, the controller, upon receiving the signal from the button, activates the motor to move the first connector block from a substantially open position to a substantially closed position.",
    "2. The docking station of claim 1 further comprising: a first slot on a right edge of the top surface; and a second slot on a left edge of the top surface.",
    "3. The docking station of claim 1 further comprising: a first positioning member of the plurality of positioning members, the first positioning member positioned to contact a front surface of the electronic device; a second positioning member of the plurality of positioning members, the second positioning member positioned to contact a front surface of the electronic device; a third positioning member of the plurality of positioning members, the third positioning member positioned to contact a rear surface and a first side surface of the electronic device; and a fourth positioning member of the plurality of positioning members, the fourth positioning member positioned to contact a rear surface and a second side surface of the electronic device.",
    "4. The docking station of claim 1 further comprising: a second sensor, the second sensor configured to detect the presence of the electronic device.",
    "5. The docking station of claim 1 further comprising: a second connector of the first connector block.",
    "6. The docking station of claim 1 further comprising: a first block-side portion of the first arm; and a first follower portion of the first arm.",
    "7. The docking station of claim 6 further comprising: a first linear clutch connecting the first block-side portion to the first follower portion.",
    "8. The docking station of claim 7 further comprising: a third sensor associated with the first linear clutch, the third sensor configured to detect a slippage of the first linear clutch.",
    "9. The docking station of claim 1 further comprising: a first rail associated with the first arm and connected to the housing; and a first sliding member connected to the first arm and slidably connected to the first rail.",
    "10. The docking station of claim 1 further comprising: a first alignment arm of the first connector block.",
    "11. The docking station of claim 1 further comprising: a first rack-gear of the first arm; and a pinion-gear.",
    "12. The docking station of claim 11 further comprising: an emergency override gear connected to the pinion-gear; and a clutch-gear.",
    "13. The docking station of claim 12 wherein the clutch-gear is configured to slip in response to a rotational force applied to the emergency override gear.",
    "14. The docking station of claim 12 wherein the clutch-gear is disposed between the motor and the pinion gear.",
    "15. The docking station of claim 1 further comprising: a security hole; and a fourth sensor in the security hole.",
    "16. The docking station of claim 1 further comprising: a position sensor for detecting a position of the first arm.",
    "17. The docking station of claim 16 further comprising: a position reference member of the first arm, the position reference member positioned to interface with the position sensor.",
    "18. A docking station for an electronic device, the docking station comprising: a housing; a tray of the housing for receiving the electronic device; a first connector block; a first connector of the first connector block, the first connector positioned to engage a first port of the electronic device; a first arm of the first connector block, the first arm slidably connected to the housing; a second connector block opposite the first connector block; a second connector of the second connector block, the second connector positioned to engage a second port of the electronic device; a second arm of the second connector block, the second arm slidably connected to the housing; a motor connected to the first arm and the second arm via one or more gears, the motor operable to turn the one or more gears thereby sliding the first and second arms to engage and disengage the first and second connectors with the first and second ports of the electronic device, respectively; a controller for controlling the motor; a sensor configured to detect the presence of the electronic device; a button on the housing, the button configured to send a signal to the controller; and wherein when the sensor indicates the electronic device is present, the controller, upon receiving the signal from the button, activates the motor.",
    "19. A docking station for an electronic device, the docking station comprising: a housing; a tray of the housing for receiving the electronic device; a connector block; a connector of the connector block, the connector positioned to engage a port of the electronic device; an arm of the connector block, the arm slidably connected to the housing; a block-side portion of the arm; a follower portion of the arm; and a linear clutch connecting the block-side portion to the follower portion, the linear clutch operable to slip thereby allowing the follower portion to move independently of the block-side portion.",
    "20. The docking station of claim 19 further comprising: a first sensor configured to detect the presence of the electronic device; and a second sensor associated with the linear clutch, the second sensor configured to detect a slippage of the linear clutch."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "This application is a non-provisional of, and claims the benefit of priority to, U.S. Provisional Application 61/922,094 filed Dec. 31, 2013 and U.S. Provisional Application 61/988,250 filed May 4, 2014. The entirety of the aforementioned provisional applications are hereby incorporated by reference.\n\nField of the Invention\n\nThe embodiments of the invention relate a docking station for an electronic device, and more particularly, to a software controlled, horizontally oriented docking station for a laptop computer. Although embodiments of the invention are suitable for a wide scope of applications, it is particularly suitable for use with laptop computers that have ports on two opposing sides and for protecting an electronic device from unauthorized removal from a docking station.\n\nDiscussion of the Related Art\n\nThe related art docking stations include docking stations for laptop computers. Docking stations of the related art are generally of the form disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,309,230 to Helot, particularly FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. The related art docking stations generally interface with an electronic device such as a laptop computer. The electrical connection between electronic device and docking station is generally achieved through a single, multi-pin docking port. The related art docking station generally provides a multitude of additional interface ports connected to the docking port.\n\nDocking stations of the related art also include multi-plug to multi-port docking stations such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Pub. 2013/0148289 of Kitae Kwon (“Kwon”), particularly in FIG. 2 (multi-plug), and FIG. 6 (multi-port).",
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  "assignees": [
    "Henge Docks LLC"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Matthew Leigh Vroom"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2014-06-16",
  "publication_date": "2017-05-16",
  "grant_date": "2017-05-16",
  "priority_date": "2013-12-31",
  "application_number": "US-201414306198-A",
  "family_id": "53481607",
  "cited_by_count": 3,
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Record 4,117 of 8,000 in Patents full text (MLC-0201). Request the full dataset.